Lonesome 7-7203

"Lonesome 7-7203"
Single by Hawkshaw Hawkins
B-side "Everything Has Changed"
Released March 2, 1963[1]
Format 7"
Recorded 1962
Genre Country
Length 2:45
Label King
Writer(s) Justin Tubb
Hawkshaw Hawkins singles chronology
"Soldier's Joy"
(1959)		 "Lonesome 7-7203"
(1963)

"Lonesome 7-7203" is a 1963 single by Hawkshaw Hawkins, written by Justin Tubb. It was the final single release of his career, released in 1963 on the King label.

Contents

History

"Lonesome 7-7203" was Hawkins's first chart entry since "Soldier's Joy" in 1959. It spent twenty-five weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, peaking at No. 1 on the chart dated for May 4, 1963.[2]

Three days after its release, Hawkins died in an airplane crash which also killed Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas. Two weeks after Hawkins' death, the song reached No. 1 for a four-week run.[2]

The song, a heartbreak ballad, is from a man who keeps receiving phone calls on the old phone number for his ex. He can't bear the constant calls not for him that remind him of her so he has set up a special phone number, exclusively for her, that she can call to get back in touch with him (and presumably, resume the relationship). The song is the means that he uses to give out the new number.

Cover versions

Following Hawkins' version, three others charted on the country singles charts with cover versions: Burl Ives, Tony Booth and Darrell Clanton, in 1967, 1972 and 1983, respectively.

Chart performance

Hawkshaw Hawkins

Chart (1963) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles 1[2]
U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 8[2]
Preceded by
"Still" by Bill Anderson
"Still" by Bill Anderson
"Act Naturally" by Buck Owens		 Billboard Hot Country Singles number-one single
May 4, 1963
June 1-June 8, 1963
June 22, 1963		 Succeeded by
"Still" by Bill Anderson
"Act Naturally" by Buck Owens
"Act Naturally" by Buck Owens

Burl Ives

Chart (1967) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles 72[3]

Tony Booth

Chart (1972) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles 16[4]
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 7[5]

Darrell Clanton

Chart (1983-1984) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles 24[6]
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 21[7]

References

  1. ^ "Forgotten Artists: Hawkshaw Hawkins (1921-1963) - The 9513". RPM. http://www.the9513.com/forgotten-artists-hawkshaw-hawkins/. Retrieved 5 March 2011. 
  2. ^ a b c d Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 184. ISBN 0-89820-177-2. 
  3. ^ Whitburn, pp. 200-201
  4. ^ Whitburn, p. 56
  5. ^ "RPM Country Tracks listing for December 2, 1972". RPM. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4248&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=8siuk30anl68v7a31tv6lq4v03. Retrieved 27 March 2010. 
  6. ^ Whitburn, p. 94
  7. ^ "RPM Country Tracks listing for February 4, 1984". RPM. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4453&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=6u1j3l4c8opd62r399v83q86v5. Retrieved 25 March 2010.